Socket-interrupter



M. H. SHOENBERG. s'ocm INTERRUPTER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 13. 1920.

1,400,914, Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

INVENTOR. 1/ J A T ORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON H. SHOENBERG, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

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Application filed. May 13, 1920. Serial No. 881,148.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON H. SHOENBERG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Socket-Interrupters of which. the following is. a specification.

My invention has for its object the provision of a device adapted to be introduced into the well known electric lamp socket, and between the central contact therein and the corresponding contact surface of the base of an incandescent lamp or other socket device, whereby current is alternately permitted to flow and to be interrupted at periodic intervals through the action of the said device.

This object I attain by mounting within my device an element sensitive to heat and adapted when heated to move over a sulficient distance to interrupt a circuit ,previously completed therethrough.

This heat sensitive element is mounted adjacent to an electric resistance through which the energizing current of the socket connected device, whether lamp, electric iron, etc., will be permitted to flow at such times as the heat sensitive element is below a predetermined temperature, and if the said element is heated as by the resistance coil beyond the predetermined point, the said heat element thereupon is distorted by the said heat into a shape whereby the current pre- .viously flowing is interrupted. It therefore follows that the said heat element will there-- after continue to cool until it cools below the predetermined point and contact is again effected, and current permitted to flow. There will, therefore,- be a. periodic makeand-break in the energizing circuit of such a socket device-wherein my invention is introduced. 7

By referring to the accompanying drawings, my invention will be made clear.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ordina lamp and socket partly broken away to s ow my device in place.

-Fig. 2 is a section through my interrupter on the line IIII of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a section in plan on the line III-III of Fig. 2 and at right angles thereto.

Fig. 4 is a detail view ofthe contact parts and thermostat terminals.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. insulation 14, and a second electric terminal Fig. 4). The opposite terminal of this wire Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

Throughout the figures like numerals refer to identical parts.

A lamp socket of well known form is indicated by the numeral 1, within which is mounted the lamp 2.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, my device in preferred form is shown full size at 3 and is as follows. A shallow cup-shaped metallic member 4 has centrally fixed therein a pin 5, preferably headed and extended to contact with an insulated lining of a similar cup-shaped member on the opposite side and indicated at 6.

The layer of insulation protecting the inner surface of 6 is shown by the numeral 7, and is formed concentric with and for the purpose of lining the cup member 6; a similar lining is provided for the cup member 4, as indicated at 8, so that when the members 4 and 6, and their linings are slipped together with their peripheries in engagement an annular closed compartment is formed with the two members insulated from each other and providing an interior insulating surface.

The pin 5 prevents the collapsing of the members 6 and 4, and there is then provided an insulating rim of annular shape pressed over the member 6 and as shown at 9 and 10, and which I have shown as made of two annular rings. WVithin the annular compartment formed between the plate members 4 and 6, and attached to the central pin 5, I provide an arm preferably made of iron and indicated by the numeral 11, which arm ex-- tends first radially and then turns forming a concentric circular member in the said compartment, and attached to the periphery of this circle is a concentric metallic bar referably of different metal, as zinc, and indicatedby the numeral 12. Other metals may be substituted for iron and zinc, the essential feature of the combination being that they be of different co-eflicients of expansion to secure the best results. 4

An electric terminal '13 is fitted at one end of the combined thermal element 11, 12, and on the opposite side is provided alayer of 15. To one of these terminals, 15, is to be attached an electrical resistance indicated at 16 as of helical spring form, and which may be wound upon a fiber rod or strip 17 (see as at 18 is carried through the metallic cap 6 and riveted, or soldered, and this establishes electric conductivity from metallic cap 4 and pin 5 through the ring 11, 12, and the terminal 13 and when thermal coil 11 12 is below the critical temperature, contact is made from 13 to 15 (see Fig. 4), the path is then through the resistance 16 connecting wire 18 and the metal cup 6.

It will thus be seen that a circuit may be completed between the surface of the plate 4 and the surface of the plate 6 whenever the temperature is below the critical temperature; and the fiow of electric current over the said circuit heats the coil 16, which in turn heats the thermal coil ll, 12, causing its relative expansion and the separation of the contact 13 from the contact 15, thus interrupting the circuit. The current now being cut off from the resistance 16, the device and its associate parts begin to cool and the I contact is thereafter reestablished between 13 and 15 and the cycle of movements is repeated indefinitely. It will thus be seen that with the device of my invention the lamp vents the collapsing of the plates-6 and 4 when the lamp socket is secured against my device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and. desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A circuit interrupting device comprising an upper and a lower shell adapted to telescopically engage at their peripheries, insulating material between the shells, a thermostat element carrying contacts constructed and adapted to break contact with each other when heated and to make contact when cooled'and the said element and one shell and the other contact and the other shell also connected in electric series.

2. A circuit interrupting device as set forth in claim-'1 wherein a pin is fixed to one of the shells forming a strut against the insulating lining of the other shell to resist compression of the shells and wherein the thermostat element is supported from said pin. 4

an outer ring of insulating material and constructed and adapted to fit into an electric socket.

In testimony whereof 'I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California.-

MILTON H. SHOENBERG.

'45 one contact connected in electric series and 3. A device as set forth in claim 1 having 

